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make something monday :: restyled moccasins

I picked up a pair of moccasins at the thrift store a few weeks ago for just a couple of bucks. They aren't vintage and in fact pretty generic but they were in my size and barely worn. I really want a pair of Minnetonkas like THESE for the fall and have been saving my pennies so I instantly knew that theses black ones would be the perfect pair to restyle. I decided to update them to look similar to the "I heart you" pair that Darlingtonia made for Red Velvet this past season...swoon worthy but a bit out of my price range and after restyling this pair I know why that's ALOT of work! (see them HERE)

The first thing I did was lift up and remove the fringe portion by using a seam ripper and some brute force. I also trimmed the leather bows down to simple knots.

Then I used a white and a burnt orange suede sampler that I picked up at my local Pacific Fabric for only a few dollars and cut a large and a small heart from each to layer. They remind me of tender heart bear...do you remember care bears? Of course you do :).

I used some Fabrictac glue to glue the two hearts together and while they were drying I added a white stitching around the toe with some embroidery floss and a glovers needle. I followed the black stitching that was already there. A note if you make some of these try to thread the needle like I did in the photo above it is super hard to fit your hand inside of the shoe to pull the needle back and forth and I finally figured out that you can almost whip stitch right on top.

Lastly I top stitched the hearts together with my sewing machine right down the middle and then glued them onto the shoes, this time I pulled out the big guns and used some E6000. They dried overnight and are perfect for the chilly fall like weather we have had her in Seattle today! It was a simple little restyle project to keep my fingers busy over the weekend.

What have you been working on lately? Hope you have a wonderful Monday friends!

SUCH an amazing idea. I love this. The Darlingtonia ones are beyond adorable but I agree, really out of my price range too. Which is totally understandable since hers are handmade but I always appreciate a more thrifty option. : )

Oh my goodness, did you say "chilly fall like weather"? If I didn't know what the cost of living for Seattle was I'd be packing my bags right now. We've had over a month of record breaking heat now with no end in sight and I just want to cry. Oh, I love the shoes, too... if the forecast ever indicates cooler weather on the horizon, I may have to look for a pair to restyle myself!

!!! So cute! Moccasins always remind me of my mom when I was little. She always used to wear them. She even got a white pair for me, but at the time I was embarrassed and didn't think they were stylish. I bet she'd appreciate a gift like this for her birthday.

I love this!! I saw Red Velvet's and swooned, but also needed to save my dollars. :) I have had my eye out for some at the thrift store and now I am REALLY going to have to find some. I love this tutorial!